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New truck for CFB firefighters

A firefighter extends an attached 115ft. ladder during a demonstration of a new fire truck on Wednesday December 6, 2017 in CFB Trenton, Ont. The new truck, dubbed the Aerial Fire Fighting Vehicle (AFFV), is the first of nine to be delivered to bases across the country. Tim Miller/Belleville Intelligencer/Postmedia Network

There’s a new big red machine at 8 Wing.
On Wednesday Bay of Quinte MP Neil Ellis, on behalf of Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, was on hand to unveil the first of a fleet of new, modern fire trucks slated for bases and wings across the country.
Known as the Aerial Fire Fighting Vehicle (AFFV) these modern trucks provide firefighting capabilities, rescue and casualty evacuation to a height of 35 meters (115 ft.).
They also feature a casualty recovery platform previous vehicles didn’t have, a pump that can put out 2,000 gallons of water a minute and is almost completely computerized.
The vehicles were procured to fight fires on modern infrastructure found on bases and wings including fires in ammunition and fuel containment areas.
“Special situations like those require special equipment,” said Ellis, adding the modern firefighting vehicle will improve 8 Wing’s ability to fight fires.
“If a fire were to threaten the base, CAF (Canadian Armed Forces) members that live and work here, this firefighting truck would be a critical asset to the firefighters of 8 Wing and for bases and wings across Canada.”
The National Defence Fire Service is made up of approximately 1,000 firefighters that work out of 18 main fire departments at all major Canadian Armed Forces bases across the country.
They respond to more than 5,000 calls every year — including fires, aircraft emergencies, medical emergencies, vehicle collisions, hazardous material incidents and technical rescues.
The new fire trucks will replace some of the current vehicles that have been in use since the mid-90s and that have exceeded their life expectancy. The trucks were selected to address the increasing need to perform suppression, access and rescue operations on larger structures like CFB Trenton’s Hangar 6 which officially opened earlier this year.
“Examples of which are on this very wing,” said Canadian Forces Fire Marshal Lt.-Col. Lee Goodman. “Additionally, this Aerial Fire Fighting Vehicle provides a new capability to better protect passengers and crew during aircraft ground emergencies.”
Goodman said firefighters on Canadian Forces Bases have advanced training in the application of firefighting agents used to extinguish burning aviation fuel in and around an aircraft.
“With this new vehicle our firefighters are now better equipped to reach the engine or wing area of our largest aircraft where the risk of fire is greatest.”
An $18.7 million contract for these vehicles was awarded to Aréo-Feu based in Longueuil, Québec, after an open competition. A total of nine new vehicles will be delivered to bases and wings across Canada with an option for three more. The final delivery is expected for April 2018.
The following bases and wings will each receive one new AFFV: 4 Wing Cold Lake, 3 Wing Bagotville, 8 Wing Trenton, 19 Wing Comox, 14 Wing Greenwood, CFB Suffield, CFB Shilo, CFB Gagetown and CFB Esquimalt.
tjmiller@postmedia,com